The investigation into a series of cash machine thefts could be spread across four counties.

Four cash machines have been stolen from Leicestershire Co-ops in Sapcote, Newbold Verdon, Asfordby and Whetstone in recent months.

In each case the burglars used a stolen digger to carry out the raids.

Last month, Leicestershire Police released footage of the Sapcote Co-op raid, in Leicester Road, which shows the stolen digger twice being driven at the shop front.

As well as the incidents in Leicestershire, four other machines have been taken by thieves using a similar method in Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire.

A Leicestershire Police spokesman said detectives were linking the Leicestershire raids with those in the two neighbouring counties and that they were “aware” of the incident in Gloucestershire.

They added: “We are looking into links between them but we are not formerly linking them at this stage.”

Police are still investigating the raids on Co-op stores in Leicestershire. They have urged anyone with any information to contact them on 101 or call Crimestoppers, which is free and anonymous, on 0800 555111.